Markets shutter. Drones multiply. Bots write grant proposals. And in both hemispheres, governments rewrite the rules—of commerce, of speech, of truth. From Pentagon blueprints to Spotify ghost tracks, these stories don’t just report the news. They map the power lines.
SPACE’S NEW RACE RAISES SOVEREIGNTY STAKES
More nations join space efforts—but face ethical, legal, and environmental hurdles.
LONDON, July 21 – Indian Space Research Org.; U.S. NASA; Indigenous communities
🟢 Smaller countries now launch CubeSats but struggle for geopolitical recognition.
📊 U.S. and China top global space spending at $62 bn and $13 bn respectively.
💬 “Space is pay-to-play,” said Milligan, King’s College London.
Inclusive space access may increase environmental risk and satellite clutter.
Can we explore space without reproducing Earth’s inequalities?
Equity must guide expansion beyond Earth.
(Source: https://theconversation.com/democratizing-space-is-more-than-adding-new-players-it-raises-issues-around-sustainability-and-sovereignty-211673)
HACKED DATA MARKET HITS MAINSTREAM VIA STARTUP
Farnsworth Intelligence monetizes stolen browser data from 50M+ infected devices.
NEW YORK, July 21 – Farnsworth Intelligence; EFF; EPIC
🟢 Victims’ autofill info and credentials sold for private use, starting at $50.
📊 One site lets users search data from 50 million+ computers.
💬 “They’re re-victimizing people,” said Quintin, EFF.
What was once dark web trade is now packaged for corporate buyers.
How can digital privacy survive legal grey zones?
Selling stolen data is still exploitation.
(Source: https://www.404media.co/a-startup-is-selling-data-hacked-from-peoples-computers-to-debt-collectors)
ARGENTINA EASES ENTRY FOR CHINESE TRAVELERS
New policy lets Chinese tourists with U.S./EU visas skip Argentine visa process.
BUENOS AIRES, July 21 – President Milei; Chinese Foreign Ministry
🟢 Move signals pivot from delayed U.S. deals toward China-friendly engagement.
📊 Chinese nationals now eligible to enter Argentina visa-free if holding U.S./EU visas.
💬 U.S. swap deal “extortion,” said Envoy Claver-Carone.
Policy change may smooth diplomatic strains with Beijing amid tense U.S. ties.
Can Milei balance both superpowers without fallout?
Foreign policy tilts toward China—quietly.
(Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3305306/us-pressures-argentinas-milei-scrap-currency-swap-accord-china)
TARIFF JITTERS LINGER AS TRUMP’S DEADLINE NEARS
U.S. economy holds strong, but experts warn effects may hit post-August 1.
WASHINGTON, July 21 – President Trump; CEA; EU Commission
🟢 25–40% tariffs may start hitting global partners next month.
📊 Average U.S. tariff rate set to rise from 16.6% to 20.6%.
💬 “Calm before the storm,” said Prof. Hoekman, European University Institute.
Firms stockpiled early, muting inflation—for now.
Will growth stall once the buffer runs out?
Tariff impact still loading—watch August.
(Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/7/21/as-trumps-tariff-deadline-looms-economists-see-calm-before-the-storm)
UK ASKING PRICES DIP MOST IN TWO DECADES
Rightmove reports £4,531 average drop in July asking prices.
LONDON, July 20 – Rightmove; UK Home Sellers
🟢 Fall driven by stamp duty expiry, tax hikes, and excess listings.
📊 Average asking price dropped 1.2% to £373,709—the steepest since 2002.
💬 “Price is key to selling,” said Babcock, Rightmove.
Buyer affordability rises with wage gains and falling mortgage rates.
Will lower prices revive stagnant home sales?
Sellers slash to compete in crowded market.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jul/20/average-uk-house-asking-price-registers-steepest-monthly-drop-for-20-years)
CHINA SHIPS 31 ELECTRIC TRUCKS TO ZAMBIA MINE
First mass export of electric mining vehicles to Africa begins from China.
BEIJING, July 21 – Breton Tech; China 15th Metallurgical; Zambia Mining Sector
🟢 Fleet supports greener mining but revives concerns about Chinese environmental oversight.
📊 $5 billion pledged to Zambia’s mining industry by 2031.
💬 “Unmanned fleets will soon operate in Africa,” said Fei, Breton Technology.
Zambia’s mine spill earlier this year still casts a long shadow.
Is green tech enough to cleanse a dirty legacy?
Electric trucks won’t erase toxic history.
(Source: https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/21/china-ships-electric-mining-trucks-to-zambia)
CHINA-LINKED HACKERS BREACH AFRICAN IT NETWORKS
APT41’s new espionage campaign uses stealth malware inside African government systems.
NAIROBI, July 21 – APT41; Kaspersky; African IT agencies
🟢 Malware embedded in internal proxies enabled credential theft and remote command execution.
📊 Tools targeted dozens of African systems, exploiting local SharePoint servers.
💬 “The attackers adapt quickly,” said Kaspersky researchers.
Hackers spoof GitHub domains to evade security filters.
Are Africa’s digital defenses ready for nation-state threats?
Espionage is going regional—and surgical.
(Source: https://thehackernews.com/2025/07/china-linked-hackers-target-african-it.html)
CITIZEN APP TO STREAM FOOTAGE DIRECTLY TO NYPD
New partnership lets law enforcement access public videos in real time.
NEW YORK, July 21 – Citizen; NYPD; Mayor Eric Adams
🟢 Citizen’s new safety portal gives NYPD real-time video access from app users.
📊 City will send geo-targeted alerts to millions of residents.
💬 “You can opt out,” said Citizen’s FAQ.
App history includes promoting vigilantism and misidentifying suspects.
Does surveillance opt-in still feel like a choice?
Crowdsourced safety or state-powered panopticon?
(Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/7/21/citizen-crime-videos-nypd-sharing)
BUS ROOF RIPPED OFF IN UK BRIDGE COLLISION
Fifteen hospitalized after double-decker hits bridge in Manchester suburb.
MANCHESTER, July 21 – Greater Manchester Police; TfGM; NW Ambulance
🟢 Air ambulance responded to 15 injuries at Salford crash site.
📊 Incident occurred around 15:00 BST on Route 100 bus.
💬 “Our priority is supporting the emergency response,” said TfGM.
Same bridge struck by another bus just last year.
How many warnings must a low bridge give?
Bridge strikes repeat—same spot, more hurt.
(Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-65207081)
AI STUDY: GEMINI RUTHLESS, CHATGPT NAIVELY NICE
Game theory tests show Gemini punishes; GPT collaborates despite betrayals.
OXFORD, July 21 – Oxford Univ.; King’s College; OpenAI; Google DeepMind
🟢 Gemini wins short games by defecting when cooperation fails.
📊 Gemini considers remaining turns 94% of the time; GPT only 76%.
💬 “If you defect, Gemini will punish,” said researchers.
GPT’s optimism costs it in competitive AI tournaments.
Can friendliness be a flaw in artificial minds?
Hopeful bots lose to strategic sharks.
(Source: https://www.404media.co/gemini-chatgpt-prisoners-dilemma-study)
HONG KONG DODGES MAJOR DAMAGE FROM TYPHOON WIPHA
Experts say storm track spared city from widespread destruction.
HONG KONG, July 21 – HK Observatory; Lam Chiu-ying; Meteorologists
🟢 Typhoon triggered No. 10 signal but skirted densely populated zones.
📊 Wipha caused 700+ fallen trees and injured 33—less than half Saola’s toll.
💬 “It was pure luck,” said Lam, former Observatory chief.
Earlier warning models aided response, but path shift could’ve been dire.
Will next storm get this “lucky” pass too?
Close call reveals urban typhoon risk.
(Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3318925/typhoon-wipha-hong-kong-emerges-dozens-hurt-travellers-frustrated)
INTEL SHUTS DOWN CLEAR LINUX AFTER 10 YEARS
Niche OS lacked adoption, now archived in read-only mode.
SANTA CLARA, July 21 – Intel; Clear Linux Team; Open Source Users
🟢 Security updates end immediately—users urged to migrate systems.
📊 OS tailored for Intel CPUs—now abandoned as non-strategic.
💬 “Plan migration ASAP,” read Intel’s forum post.
Project’s closure signals a pivot to agentic AI priorities.
Is open-source viability shrinking under corporate cost cuts?
Custom Linux gets quietly sunset.
(Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/intel-announces-end-of-clear-linux-os-project-archives-github-repos)
IRANIAN SPYWARE DCHSPY MASQUERADES AS VPNS
Surveillance apps targeted dissidents via Telegram after Israel-Iran clash.
TEHRAN, July 21 – Lookout; MOIS; Android users in Iran
🟢 Spyware logged WhatsApp, calls, locations, and device mic data.
📊 At least 4 malware samples detected posing as VPN or Starlink apps.
💬 “DCHSpy collects wide-ranging data,” said Islamoglu, Lookout.
Surveillance apps ride wave of digital repression post-ceasefire.
How do users spot weaponized tools disguised as help?
Fake VPNs fuel real-world crackdowns.
(Source: https://thehackernews.com/2025/07/iran-linked-dchspy-android-malware.html)
ITALY DROPS PUTIN-ALLY MAESTRO AFTER BACKLASH
Caserta palace cancels Gergiev concert amid protests.
NAPLES, July 21 – Valery Gergiev; Yulia Navalnaya; Italian Officials
🟢 Event pulled after Ukraine, activists and exiles demanded action.
📊 Gergiev lost top posts since 2022 for supporting Russia’s war.
💬 “Good news,” said Navalnaya on X.
Italian gov’t called it a ‘common-sense’ choice to preserve values.
Can cultural icons escape political accountability abroad?
Putin’s friends lose Western stages.
(Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/21/italy-cancels-concert-by-putin-ally-gergiev)
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE MAY GO 24-HOUR
Round-the-clock trading aims to boost UK market appeal.
LONDON, July 21 – LSEG; FT; UK Treasury
🟢 Proposal seeks to reverse capital flight to U.S. listings.
📊 UK trading currently open 8am–4:30pm—U.S. eyes 1:30am start.
💬 “Absolutely looking at it,” said source to FT.
Move could disrupt fund valuation, but improve west coast access.
Will nonstop markets be worth the cost to humans?
Liquidity never sleeps anymore.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/21/london-stock-exchange-considers-24-hour-trading)
META HOSTED ADS TO FUND IDF DRONE PURCHASES
117 ads solicited donations for Israeli military gear, watchdog finds.
MENLO PARK, July 21 – Meta; Ekō; Vaad Hatzedaka; Mayer Malik
🟢 Facebook and Instagram ran ads for sniper gear and drones used in Gaza.
📊 One campaign raised $2.2M for IDF equipment, watchdog reported.
💬 “Meta will literally take money from anybody,” said Hammad, Ekō.
Ads violated Meta’s own rules and may breach EU laws.
Can a platform profit from wartime hardware pitches?
Ad policy enforcement trails public outrage.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/21/meta-ads-idf-drones-ekō)
METAL BOTTLE CAPS SHED MICROPLASTICS INTO DRINKS
New French study links polyester paint to beverage contamination.
PARIS, July 21 – ANSES; Alexandre Dehaut; Consumer Safety Researchers
🟢 Microplastic levels in glass bottles were 50× higher than plastic ones.
📊 Paint on caps was main source—scraped off during packaging.
💬 “Don’t be paranoid,” said Dehaut, ANSES.
Rinsing caps helps, but isn’t yet viable at industrial scale.
Are “clean” glass bottles actually more toxic?
Paint chips pollute pristine-looking packaging.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/21/metal-bottle-caps-microplastics-study)
MEXICO CITY TO CAP RENTS AMID GENTRIFICATION UPROAR
Influx of tourists and digital nomads fuels housing protests.
MEXICO CITY, July 21 – Local Government; Protesters; Tenants
🟢 Officials propose inflation-tied rent limits and curated “reasonable” listings.
📊 Rallies denounced housing cost hikes in core districts.
💬 “The government isn’t doing enough,” said protesters.
Policy comes after sustained public pressure and activist campaigns.
Will gentrifiers be reined in—or just redirected?
Tourism faces its urban backlash.
(Source: https://www.france24.com/en/20250721-mexico-city-plans-rent-controls-tourism-protests)
MUSK’S X REJECTS FRENCH PROBE AS POLITICAL
Platform refuses data access amid foreign interference accusations.
PARIS, July 21 – X (formerly Twitter); French Prosecutors; Eric Bothorel
🟢 French MP claims reduced diversity, X calls it “completely false”.
📊 France invoked “organized gang” statute for algorithm probe.
💬 “Too fragile to let platforms decide,” said MP Bothorel.
Investigation includes wiretap powers and real-time access demands.
Can tech platforms dodge political transparency?
X positions itself as victim, not culprit.
(Source: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250721-musk-x-denies-french-algorithm-manipulation)
SILICON VALLEY’S 9 RICHEST HOLD $683B AMID CRISIS
New report reveals regional wealth concentration and housing crisis.
SAN JOSE, July 21 – SJSU; Human Rights Institute; SVPI
🟢 Just 9 households now own 15% of all local wealth.
📊 Renters must earn $136,532 to afford housing in San Jose.
💬 “No city in region raised minimum wage in 3 years,” report found.
Racial gaps and housing shortages deepen alongside tech profits.
Can equity exist inside an innovation bubble?
Tech wealth cloaks regional suffering.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/21/silicon-valley-inequality-nine-households-wealth)
CHATGPT HANDLES 2.5 BILLION PROMPTS DAILY
OpenAI’s user base now generates nearly a trillion requests annually.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 21 – OpenAI; Axios; The Verge
🟢 ChatGPT now receives 2.5 billion daily prompts—330M from the U.S.
📊 Annual usage equals 912.5 billion requests—catching up to Google Search.
💬 “Still behind Google’s 5 trillion,” Axios notes.
OpenAI reportedly plans to launch a competing browser.
Can anyone dethrone the king of search?
AI is fast becoming the first interface.
(Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/21/sam-altman-openai-trump-dc-fed)
UK SIGNS AI DEAL WITH OPENAI FOR PUBLIC SERVICES
New pact explores LLM use across defense, health, and education.
LONDON, July 21 – UK Gov’t; OpenAI; Peter Kyle; Sam Altman
🟢 Partnership may integrate ChatGPT into civil service tools like “Humphrey.”
📊 OpenAI valued at $300 billion; has 100+ staff in UK.
💬 “Time to turn ambition into action,” said Altman.
Critics warn of tech dependency, regulation gaps.
Can governments wield AI without losing control?
Public services go digital—with risks.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/21/openai-signs-uk-government-ai-deal)
PENTAGON PLANS DRONE DOMINANCE STRATEGY
Small attack drones to become “expendable” battlefield staples.
ARLINGTON, VA, July 20 – Pentagon; Sec. Pete Hegseth; U.S. DoD
🟢 Drones to be treated like ammo: deploy fast, often, and cheap.
📊 New systems weigh under 55 lbs; include kamikaze and loitering units.
💬 “21st-century warfighting demands new tools,” said DoD.
Tech race with China drives urgency and scale.
Can drone swarms replace boots on the ground?
Disposable drones, indispensable dominance.
(Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/20/world/pentagon-military-drones)
LINCOLNSHIRE OIL REFINERY TO SHUT AFTER FAILED SALE
625 jobs at risk as Prax Lindsey enters wind-down.
LINCOLNSHIRE, July 21 – Prax Group; FTI Consulting; UK Gov’t
🟢 Plant halted new crude orders after no “feasible” offer surfaced.
📊 About 625 employees affected by shutdown.
💬 “Further redundancies inevitable,” email to staff read.
Only partial assets may survive through new deals.
What’s next for Immingham’s economic future?
Energy jobs vanish as market shifts.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/21/prax-lindsey-oil-refinery-to-shut)
SPOTIFY POSTS AI SONGS FROM DEAD ARTISTS WITHOUT CONSENT
Tracks show up on verified pages with no approval from estates.
STOCKHOLM, July 21 – Spotify; Blaze Foley Estate; Syntax Error
🟢 Fake Blaze Foley, Guy Clark songs posted with AI vocals and images.
📊 Foley’s label said AI songs had “nothing to do with Blaze.”
💬 “Responsibility is all on Spotify,” said Craig McDonald.
No sign-off process exists for artist-page uploads.
When will platforms stop mixing AI with legacy?
Posthumous AI releases cross ethical lines.
(Source: https://www.404media.co/spotify-publishes-ai-songs-from-dead-artists)
T-MOBILE BRINGS LOW-LATENCY L4S TO 5G NETWORK
First U.S. mobile carrier to deploy congestion-cutting tech.
BELLEVUE, WA, July 21 – T-Mobile; Nvidia; Apple; Comcast
🟢 L4S allows smoother FaceTime and cloud gaming without hardware changes.
📊 Already active in many U.S. cities; expanding nationwide.
💬 “Think cruise control for network traffic,” said CTO John Saw.
Improves packet handling for real-time apps like GeForce Now.
Is 5G finally fast enough for real-time demands?
Congestion tech makes 5G feel futuristic.
(Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/7/21/tmobile-5g-l4s-low-latency-launch)
NIH LIMITS SUBMISSIONS TO COMBAT AI-GENERATED PAPERS
Agency overwhelmed by bot-written research floods.
BETHESDA, MD, July 21 – NIH; 404 Media; ORI
🟢 New cap: six proposals per researcher annually to preserve integrity.
📊 Some used AI to submit 40+ applications per round.
💬 “Substantially AI-developed sections are not considered original,” NIH stated.
Sanctions may follow if AI misuse is discovered post-award.
Can human science keep pace with machine-made junk?
Too much AI now chokes real research.
(Source: https://www.404media.co/nih-limits-proposals-ai-submissions)
TRUMP WAGES MULTIFRONT WAR ON U.S. MEDIA
Lawsuits, defunding, and agency pressure chill journalism.
WASHINGTON, July 21 – Trump; WSJ; PBS; FCC; Paramount
🟢 $67M+ settled from news outlets, Colbert ousted, AP banned.
📊 Trump sued WSJ for $10B over Epstein birthday note story.
💬 “He’s taking on the whole system,” said CNN’s Acosta.
Regulators now probe NPR, revoke Biden-era press protections.
Can the free press survive Trump’s second siege?
Legal wins or not, chill spreads wide.
(Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2025/07/trump-media-war)
TARIFF THREAT ROILS BRAZIL’S COFFEE FARMERS
50% import tax disrupts harvest plans amid Bolsonaro trial.
PORCIUNCULA, BRAZIL, July 21 – Trump; Silva; Marçola; Vargas
🟢 Small farmers freeze exports and lay off pickers.
📊 Brazil supplies 30% of U.S. coffee; exports topped $1.6B last year.
💬 “This bomb exploded, and we’re lost,” said Silva.
Tariff backlash linked to Bolsonaro’s legal troubles.
Will coffee prices spike—or producers fold first?
Politics brews bitter trade fallout.
(Source: https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/21/trumps-tariffs-threat-leaves-brazilian-coffee-producers-in-the-dark)
— Ohmbudsman